Methods, systems, and products for enhanced electronic programming guides

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for generating an enhanced programming guide. Programming events are associated as packages of programming. The programming guide is generated as a programming grid of cells. The programming grid lists a wrapper associated with each package and each package&#39;s associated events. The wrapper surrounds all the cells in the programming grid that are associated with the events for each package.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/748,905, filed Dec. 27, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,600,245,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/214,529,filed Jun. 27, 2000, and both applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to systems and methods for allowingsubscribers to view, select and generally customize program delivery. Inone embodiment, the invention relates generally to an electronicprogramming guide that allows a subscriber to access on-screen listingof programming information and other services to allow the subscriber toview information concerning single or multi-event, Pay-Per-View (“PPV”)products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consumers today have many programming choices, whether the programmingis broadcast over the air, delivered via cable, delivered through awireless communication system, delivered over the Internet or sent via asatellite communication system. Proliferation of these differentdelivery mediums has resulted in a much broader array of programmingchoices available to the consumer, including mainstream broadcastprograms, movies, specialty shows, news, sporting events, Pay-Per-View,movies on demand, etc. One of the problems with all of these programmingchoices is that consumers need methods and systems for efficientlynavigating throughout the multiple choices.

Past efforts to address the multiplicity of programming selections havefocused on providing subscribers pre-paid and set packages. Cable andsatellite delivery systems have long offered channels that can bepurchased as part of the subscriber's access. For instance, consumerscan purchase access to Cinemax or Moremax movie channels, specialsporting events channels, adult channels, etc. These channels provideonly a fixed selection of programming material, however. More recently,providers have offered subscribers the ability to buy particular events.For instance, a number of cable companies allow subscribers to call inand order access to particular movies, events or titles. Or, for thosesystems that have a built-in duplex feature, a subscriber may use herremote control to order a particular movie, sporting event, concert,etc.

To keep up with these ever-proliferating choices, providers haveresorted to on-screen or electronic programming guides. A communicationssystem typically receives many data records regarding programming. Eachprogram has a corresponding data record that indicates detail programinformation like channel, starting and ending times, whetherclosed-captioning and stereo are available, etc. Prior systems have longformatted these records into a programming grid, such as shown inFIG. 1. The grid is typically formatted once at a central location andbroadcast repeatedly to the homes served. Communications systems ofteninclude a channel dedicated to displaying the grid. At any particulartime, a user can tune that channel and review each programmingentry—usually listed in a row as CNN, Showtime, or HBO, etc.—andtime—often in the grid column as a particular one-half hour time slot,such as 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Grids may scroll vertically so that aviewer can scan a number of different channels within three or four timeslots.

Programming guides like these are relatively easy to deploy, becausethey may be centrally implemented, e.g., at a cable headend. Thesubscriber's location needs no additional electronics or softwarebecause the central location fully controls the display. The televisionviewer simply tunes the cable converter box, television tuner, digitalsatellite receiver, or other tuning device to the channel offering theschedule information and views the program listings. But a majordisadvantage of such a programming guide is its non-interactive nature.In other words, the subscriber must wait for the scrolling guide toreach a channel of interest, and, thereafter, he cannot get additionalinformation regarding a program of interest, for example, the cast ofactors, a plot line, etc. Thus, in a system where there are hundreds ofchannels, the scrolling program guide can take tens of minutes to cyclethrough causing the subscriber to miss programming.

Newer, interactive programming distribution systems feature ElectronicProgram Guides or EPGs, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, which result insomewhat similar functionality. However, instead of the guide scrollingautomatically, an EPG allows a viewer to use a remote control device toscroll as desired, both horizontally across time and vertically throughthe channel grid. For example, in FIG. 2A the subscriber has selectedthe movie “Victory,” as seen by the shading of the grid cell. A gridcell is the “container” that accommodates the information relating tothe event and becomes highlighted when selected. If the subscriber wantsto select the television show “Columbo,” all he need do is press theright arrow once and the down arrow once and the grid cell for “Columbo”becomes highlighted, as shown in FIG. 2B. EPG systems, like those shownin FIG. 2, utilize the two-way communications capabilities ofinteractive cable systems. In many EPG systems, the subscriber mayactivate a remote control to enter an information screen that brings uppertinent data regarding the programming event contained in the gridcell, for example, cast of characters, plot-line, closed captioningdata, etc. In some systems, impulse purchasing allows the subscriber topurchase a selected Pay-Per-View show by pressing a command button onthe remote control.

Even though current EPG systems can provide a user with information,they cannot simultaneously provide a user with both PPV event and PPVpackage information. Stated another way, current systems let subscribersknow of a single event (e.g., Star Wars Return of the Jedi) or a package(all Star Wars movies) but not both simultaneously. Thus, one cannot,for example, figure out when each movie starts in the Star Wars package.In addition, current EPG systems also fail to display PPV packages suchthat they can easily be navigated, providing the subscriber with accessto both PPV package and event choices.

In today's EPG system, the subscriber must scroll through each eventindividually, and since many of the same events are playing on multiplechannels, scrolling through hundreds of channels is both time consumingand annoying. Furthermore, many new PPV products are being introduced tothe market and current EPGs lack the functionality to list theseproducts. This is especially true with regard to multi-event PPVpackages, for example, all-day by title, all-day by channel, multi-hourseries, season ticket or weekend ticket/weekly ticket/biweekly ticket.With many existing EPGs and PPV systems, purchasable events are oftenpackaged together into a “PPV product,” “PPV package” or “package.” Inaddition to the titles for the individual events, there is often anoverall package title. For instance, the movies Star Wars, The EmpireStrikes Back, and Return of the Jedi might be bundled together into aPPV packaged entitled “Star Wars Trilogy,” as shown in FIG. 2C.

Package purchase may be done by the EPG displaying the individual eventsthat make up the package in the usual grid or list format. As usual, thesubscriber may highlight an individual event, display information on it,and purchase it. When the subscriber purchases an individual event thatis part of a package, the entire package may be purchased and thesubscriber may view all of the events within the package. Indeed, U.S.Pat. No. 6,016,141 describes just such a system. This approach onlyallows event display and navigation in the usual way. In other words,subscribers will not know whether the event is part of a package unlessthat is indicated in the event's title. For instance, using the “StarWars Trilogy” example discussed earlier, each movie that makes up thepackage could have the words “Trilogy Package” added to its title. Inthis case, the movie Return of the Jedi would be displayed as “Return ofthe Jedi—Trilogy Package”. Unfortunately, this approach creates its ownproblems. The EPG's grid or list may not be able to accommodate such along title. Moreover, subscribers may not understand that the titleindicates a package rather than an individual event.

A variation of this approach might be to add information to the event'sdescription (synopsis) indicating it is part of a package. For instance,the description for Return of the Jedi could include text stating, “Yourpurchase also includes The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars.” Again,this extra text may not fit in the space provided for the display of theevent's description. Subscribers also will not see the text unless thesubscriber highlighted the individual event and displayed itsdescription, something a subscriber may not do if they are alreadyfamiliar with the content of the movie. Also, because the text does notappear in the grid or list, it will have limited influence on thesubscriber's impulse buying decision.

Text can be added to the first screen that appears when the subscriberattempts to purchase the event. This screen is often referred to as the“buy screen.” The problem with this approach is that the subscriber isunlikely to initiate the buy sequence and see the “buy screen” unlessthey have already decided to purchase the event. As a result, the texton the buy screen acts primarily as a confirmation message and haslittle value in influencing the subscriber's initial impulse purchasedecision.

A totally different approach might be to merge the individual eventsthat make up the package into one long event, as shown in FIG. 2C. Forinstance, instead of having individual events entitled Star Wars, TheEmpire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, the events could becombined together into one large event cell entitled “The Star WarsTrilogy.” The description box or “buy screen” for this jumbo event couldlist the names of the individual events in the package. However, thisapproach would have the same disadvantages as described above.Furthermore, the EPG's grid or list would not display the start and stoptimes for individual events within the package or critical informationfor some subscribers. Also, the subscriber could not highlight anindividual event to display information on it, set a reminder for it orschedule it to record.

The approaches discussed all have individual problems; even worse noneprovide the subscriber the option of purchasing the entire package orindividual events within the package. For instance, a service providercannot offer the Star Wars Trilogy Package for $6.95 and individualevents such as Return of the Jedi for $2.95 unless an extra menu screenwas added to the buy process.

Accordingly, this invention aims to allow for viewing of PPV productssuch that the subscriber can scroll through packages, and the individualevents within each package. The invention lets programming providersoffer multi-event PPV products that span multiple channels overnon-contiguous time slots. Further, with this invention, subscribersscroll through the many available channels rapidly without having toscroll on an event by event basis. The system lets the subscriber viewpackages and enter into the individual events forming each package. Thisallows subscribers simultaneously to obtain information regarding thePPV package and also information pertaining to each event within thepackage. Furthermore, it provides the subscriber the ability to purchasea PPV package or a single event within the multi-event package.Additionally, since the user can select either the package or anindividual event, the user may use functions such as, for example,autotune or autorecord on either the package or event level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention aims to provide subscribers the flexibility to view,select and customize presentation of programming in a manner notpreviously available. For programming providers, the present inventionallows the providers to market a broader array of products tosubscribers, whereby programming revenues can be driven throughsubscribers' customization of programming selection rather than deliveryof programming via standard specialty channels or a set of Pay-Per-Viewevents. For subscribers, this invention allows rapid access toinformation necessary to select programming of interest.

The system according to this invention comprises one or more programsource(s) linked to event information. The program sources, could be,for instance, a video server coupled with an event information server.The program source couples, such as, via a broadcast programmingcommunication system, to a number of subscribers to the program. Thebroadcast programming system may comprise a cable system, a wirelesssystem, a satellite system or a broadcast system. Each subscriber has(1) a display device for displaying programming and (2) a controldevice, like a set top box coupled to the display device or, like aprocessor built into the display device as one component thereof, bywhich the subscriber selects programs of interest to be displayed. Usingthe invention, programming providers can combine one or multipleprogrammed events into multi-event packages. Subscribers can select,view information about particular packages or events therein andpurchase desired packages or events therein.

In one embodiment, the invention takes the form of an EPG that allowssubscribers to view programming packages and associated information. TheEPG allows a subscriber to view individual events on regular cablechannels and also multi-event PPV products as a single package. Thesubscriber can scroll through the multi-event PPV product wrappers untila product of interest is found. If the subscriber wants additionalinformation about the individual events contained within each productwrapper, the subscriber toggles a viewing mode that allows thesubscriber to scroll through individual event wrappers located withineach product wrapper. Thus, the EPG allows a subscriber to view and/orpurchase an entire product or to view and/or purchase a single eventwithin the product. In addition, the subscriber can, through the EPG,obtain more product information concerning the event or package.

A system of this invention may accomplish these features by packagingassociated programming events into products that are contained within apackage wrapper. Thus, as the subscriber scrolls from product toproduct, the package wrapper, which surrounds multiple events, alertsthe subscriber that he has selected a particular product. If the productis a package, to view individual events, the subscriber activates thecontrol device, e.g., via a remote control, for example, double-clickingthe enter button, which causes the EPG system to enter a second viewingmode. In the second viewing mode, the subscriber can scroll amongstevent cells within the same package or between packages. In effect, theEPG product mode, which allows the subscriber to scroll amongst packagewrappers, provides faster, but more detailed, navigation through theprogramming choices. Furthermore, while in the package scrolling modethe subscriber may interactively purchase a multi-event package by usingcommand buttons on the remote control. In addition, if the subscriberonly wants to purchase a single event within the package, he need onlyenter the second viewing mode, select the event cell of interest andpurchase it. In this same manner the subscriber may obtain informationabout the package or the individual event.

The enhanced EPG has the ability to display a PPV package and itsindividual PPV events on the screen at the same time. The subscriber canhighlight the complete package or an individual event and performoperations such as the following:

-   -   Display information on an individual event, a package or event        that is part of a package;    -   Set a reminder for the subscriber to view an event or package;    -   Schedule an event or package to be automatically tuned or        recorded;    -   Buy an event package—or an individual event that is part of a        package; and    -   Tune to the channel showing the event or package.

This invention aims to achieve one, all, or combinations of thefollowing objectives:

-   -   to provide systems and methods for programming providers to        offer broader selections and combinations of programming events        to subscribers;    -   to provide systems and methods for subscribers to obtain more        information on programming events;    -   to provide systems and methods for subscribers to obtain        information about series of associated events;    -   to enhance programming revenues by providing subscribers more        programming options at more flexible costs; and    -   to provide improved programming guides, navigation capacities        and information for presentation to subscribers of communication        systems providing various programming events.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a non-interactive program guide modulated onto a cable TVchannel.

FIG. 2A is an interactive Electronic Program Guide (EPG) grid that isdisplayed when the guide feature is entered.

FIG. 2B is the EPG grid of FIG. 2A, with a different program beingselected.

FIG. 2C is the EPG grid of FIG. 2A, showing a single channel multi-eventPPV package.

FIG. 3 depicts an EPG distribution system and components for deliveringan EPG to the subscriber.

FIG. 4 is a display of an EPG grid according to this invention thatallows selection of PPV packages and PPV events and shows themulti-event package of Star Wars Trilogy being selected.

FIG. 5 is a display of a second embodiment of the new and improved EPGgrid, which displays PPV products in a list format and shows themulti-event product of Star Wars Trilogy being selected.

FIG. 6 is the EPG grid of FIG. 4 with the multi-event All-day by Titlepackage of Titanic being selected.

FIG. 7 is the EPG grid of FIG. 4 with a different PPV package beingselected.

FIG. 8 is the EPG grid of FIG. 4 with a different PPV package beingselected.

FIG. 9 is a display of the EPG grid of FIG. 4, shifted in time by oneday so that the next day's All-day by Title package is being displayed.

FIG. 10 is the EPG grid of FIG. 7 shifted in forward in time bytwo-hours.

FIG. 11 is the EPG grid displaying a Weekly Ticket package.

FIG. 12 is the EPG grid of FIG. 9 with the Weekly Ticket package beingselected.

FIG. 13 is the EPG grid of FIG. 9 in the hyperscroll mode, which allowsthe subscriber to have a collapsed view of the events contained in theWeekly Ticket product and scroll through each separate event.

FIG. 14 is a view of the hyperscroll mode of FIG. 11 time shiftedforward to the Monday of the following week.

FIG. 15 is a view of another embodiment of the EPG grid, which allows auser to scroll and expand a PPV package.

FIG. 16 is an expanded view of a PPV package in the EPG grid of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is the expanded view of FIG. 16 time shifted forward in time.

FIG. 18 is a process flow diagram of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

General Terms:

Before describing the drawings and embodiments in more detail, severalterms are described below in an effort to clarify the terminology usedin this document. Additional and fuller understanding of these termswill be clear to a person skilled in this art, especially upon theirreading this entire document:

Channel: A frequency band for transmitting television programming, inwhich is received by a tuner and displayed on a television set, forexample, channel 2.

Electronic Program Guide: An electronic program guide is a grid, tableor other presentation of programming information organized by variousparameters, such as, channel and time.

Event Cell: An event cell is the “container” that accommodates theinformation relating to the event and becomes highlighted when selectedby the user.

Event: An event is a single entertainment program ranging from cable, tosports, to broadcast television, to movies, to interactive events, suchas web casts.

Hyperscroll: Hyperscroll is a viewing mode that allows a user to movefrom one event to another within a Pay-Per-View Package.

Navigate: Navigating is the ability to control the movement of thecursor from one program listing to another in the electronic programguide.

Package: A package is a preassembled grouping of individual events to besold as a single package.

Product Wrapper: A product wrapper is the “container” that accommodatesthe information relating to a group of individual events and becomeshighlighted when selected by the user.

Programming Data Programming data includes information describing theevent's appearance on the broadcast medium. Such information mayinclude: channel, start time, end time, content descriptor, title andpricing information

Programming System The programming system comprises the equipmentnecessary to deliver the programming guide to the user, for example, acable system, a wireless system, a satellite system or a broadcastsystem.

Screen: A screen is the data that is displayed or projected for the userto view.

Scroll: To cause text or graphics to move, e.g., vertically orhorizontally, across a screen so that a new line of data appears forevery line of data that moves off the screen.

Set Top Box: A set-top box is a device that enables a television set tobecome a user interface to the Internet, cable, satellite or whichenables a television set to receive and decode digital televisionbroadcasts. The set top box may be a stand alone component or it mayinclude software and hardware integrated into the television or othercomponents associated therewith.

Subscriber: A subscriber is someone who pays for programming service anduses the EPG information to determine what programming is available oneach channel.

Overview:

FIG. 3 shows an overview of a system according to the present invention.FIG. 3 shows a transmission facility 315, which can be in a cablesystem, a cable head-end or the like. In a satellite delivery system,the transmission facility 315 may be a centralized facility or regionalfacility serving all or portions of the satellite distribution network.Likewise, for a regular broadcast communication system, the transmissionfacility 315 can be a local or national affiliate. In any event,transmission facility 315 has the components necessary to broadcastvarious programming events, store those events and store data associatedwith those events. In a particular implementation shown in FIG. 3,transmission facility 315 has a broadcast server 320, a video server340, and an EPG data server 360. As a skilled person will understand,each of these servers, 320, 340 and 360 may be supplied by thirdparties. For instance, FIG. 3 shows that an EPG data provider 362provides the data that is stored by the EPG data server 360. Broadcastserver 320, according to a schedule set by the particular programmingservice provider, broadcasts video and EPG data via the distributionnetwork 372 to multiple customer premises. Each customer premise 380 hasequipment for displaying programming events as well as the dataassociated therewith. For instance, customer premises 380 may have a TV382 with an associated set top box 384. Most consumers will also have aVCR 385 and/or DVR 386. Likewise, especially as penetration of PCs intothe home increases, consumer may have a PC 387 associated with thedistribution network 370 as well as other consumer electronic deviceslocated at customer premises 380. Skilled persons will recognize that TV382 could incorporate the functionality of set top box 384. Similarly,as convergence of telecommunications, computing and broadcast equipmentcontinues, PC 387 may also be the display device for displaying thevarious programming events selected by the subscribers as well as thedata associated therewith provided by the transmission facility 315 overthe distribution network 370.

Event Packaging:

One aspect of the method of this invention comprises a method forpackaging programming events in which programming events are associatedwith one another in terms of content, channel, time, source ofprogramming distribution or other parameters described below. Althoughsome multi-event packages have been known before, this invention allowsprogramming providers to develop and deploy, according to the method ofthis invention, more varied and robust multi-event programming packages.In the past, such products could not be generated because subscriberscould not access the information needed to describe and understand theproduct in view of the state of the existing programming guides thathave been available.

Some of the packages that may be defined according to the method of thisinvention include the multi-event PPV packages that are described inTable 1 below:

PACKAGE TYPE PACKAGE DESCRIPTION All-day by Title product All-day byticket products allow a subscriber to purchase a packaged product thatenables the subscriber to watch a particular event over a specific timeblock continuously across one or more channels All-day by Channelproduct All-day by channel products allow a subscriber to watch aparticular channel over a predetermined block of time regardless of theevent being shown. Multi-hour Series product Multi-hour series productsallow the subscriber to watch a single channel for a predetermined timecontaining several different events. Season Ticket product The seasonticket products contain a selection of events over a relatively longperiod of time, such as a sports season, non-contiguously across one ormore channels. Weekend-Weekly-Biweekly Weekend-Weekly-Biweekly ticketproducts Ticket Products enable a subscriber to watch a selection ofevents over a relatively short period of time, for example, a week,across one or more channels.

Using the methods and systems of this invention, programming providerscan associate events by a number of parameters including, as seen inTable 1, the title (event though the events channel and time blockvaries), multiple events based on similar channel, multiple events basedon similar content, multiple event based on similar day, time andchannel or multiple events based on reoccurrence over a set period, suchas, over a weekend, weekly or bi-weekly. The process of associationresults in a richer variety of programming packages that are offer tosubscribers via the present invention.

Navigation of Guide Data:

FIG. 4 shows a screen face of the present invention that may be seen bya subscriber. The Electronic Program Guide (“EPG”) allows the subscriberto scroll through multi-event PPV packages instead of scrolling througheach individual event. Within this first mode, regular and premiumchannels would be listed with event cells and only the channelscontaining multi-event PPV products would be displayed to the subscriberin a product wrapper. This capability relies on the EPG navigator'ssupport of graphical display of multi-event package information, forexample, a color coded or shaded product wrapper 20 surroundingassociated events, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 14.

In a first embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 6-10, for an All-day byTitle product, a product 100 is usually made up of multiple events101-106. Events 101-106 are usually scheduled to play on contiguouschannels, in a staggercast pattern. Staggercast means that the starttimes of the individual events are staggered so that a subscriber doesnot have to wait very long for the next event to begin. When the EPG isin the product navigation mode, the subscriber may scroll through anAll-day title in one pass, using the remote's up and down navigationarrows, regardless of the number of events contained in that product.For example, with reference to FIGS. 6-8, if the subscriber pushed thedown arrow once, he would move from package 100 to package 200. This isshown in FIG. 6 by the highlighted package wrapper of product 100. InFIG. 7, the wrapper for product 200 is highlighted because thesubscriber navigated down to the next product. Once again, in FIG. 8,the wrapper for product 300 is highlighted. Thus, the product wrapperfeature allows rapid scrolling through PPV products. The greater thenumber of All-day by Title events in a single product, the more rapidlya customer can find and select the product that they are interested in.

To highlight an individual event, the subscriber can, for example,double click the enter button to enter a hyperscroll mode. Thehyperscroll mode is a second viewing mode that allows the subscriber tomove from event to event within the product wrapper. For example, inFIG. 6, if the subscriber highlighted package 100 and then doubleclicked the enter button on the remote, the navigator would enter thehyperscroll mode and the wrapper for event 101 would become highlighted.This would allow the subscriber to pull up information specific to thatevent, including, for example: content data describing the event,scheduling data describing when that event will be played and thechannel and pricing data explaining purchase price, individual eventpricing or both. It would also allow the subscriber to select a singleevent for purchase within a PPV product.

All-day by Title products will typically shift downward in the channellineup from day to day, to allow for newer titles to premier at the topof the PPV product listing. Therefore, scrolling to the right or leftmust account for the channel offset. Thus, if the same All-day by Titleproduct for the next day were playing on a different group of channels,then scrolling to the right, would bring the subscriber to the next daysproduct on a different group of channels, as is seen by comparing FIGS.6 and 9. In the example illustrated therein, All-day by Title product ofTitanic 100 is playing on channels 705-709 on Friday, and when thesubscriber scrolls to the right to get to Saturday's All-day products,the next All-day by Title Product of Titanic is being shown on channels708-712. Also, note that Products 200 and 300 also shifted in channelrange from Friday's all-day product to Saturday's all-day product.However, if an All-day by Title product were aligned with the samechannel range on a subsequent day, scrolling to the right would take thesubscriber to the beginning time of the same product, which maytypically start at 6 or 7:00 a.m., and play on the same channels on thesubsequent day. Thus, no channel change would occur. Therefore, thenavigation algorithm determines to which product to navigate. Theoptions are: (1) Navigate to the same product, if it is available eitheron the same or on different channels; or (2) Navigate to the productoccupying the first channel of the channel range of the previousproduct, if the previous product is not being offered on the subsequentday.

When the subscriber navigates to the beginning of a new product day,within the product mode, some events may not be visible, as seen in FIG.9. At 6:00 a.m., the events on channels 710-712 are not shown becausethey are either in the previous day's product, or have not startedwithin the present day's product due to the staggercast of theindividual events within a product. Typically, there will be somestraggling events from the previous day's product, and they should notappear in the current day's product. To see these events, the subscriberwould need to switch to the hyperscroll event mode allowing thesubscriber to scroll through each individual event wrapper. For thisreason, the preferred scrolling option would be to move to the samechannel lineup in the subsequent day.

All-day by Channel and Multi-hour Series products operate in astraightforward manner, since they occupy only one channel. All-day byChannel products can either be (1) the same event playing all day or (2)multiple events playing on a single channel. Thus, navigation is quitesimple: scrolling to the right in the EPG grid takes the subscriber tothe start time of the next product on that channel, usually 6:00 a.m. ofthe next day. Multi-hour Series packages, as shown in FIG. 4, wouldoperate the same as All-day by Channel since it is played on a singlechannel. Thus, if the subscriber navigates to the right, in the EPGgrid, it would take him to the next product start time, which couldoccur either in the same day or during a subsequent day, depending uponthe length of the product. As with the prior products, if the subscriberwants to navigate through the individual events that make up one ofthese two products, they must double click the enter button to engagethe hyperscrolling mode. This mode is extremely useful with multi-hourand all-day by channel products because it allows the subscriber toselect specific events within the product and also gives the subscriberthe ability to bring up information pertaining to the individual eventscontained in the multi-event product.

Other exemplary multi-event PPV products made possible by this inventionare the Season Ticket product, Weekend Ticket product and Weekly Ticketproduct. With reference to FIGS. 11-14, a Weekly Ticket product event401 is shown on channel 780. A second product event 402 is shown onchannel 782 starting at the end of event 401. As seen from the examplein FIG. 11, Multi-event PPV products present other challenges becausethe events can be offered on different channels, on different days, andat different times. Consequently, the events within the multi-eventproduct would show up on different EPG pages. To account for theseproblems, a second new viewing mode, the collapsed hyperscroll mode,brings together those channels that are associated with a given product.

For example in FIG. 12, when a subscriber scrolls in the product mode,to event 401 of a Weekly Ticket product, the EPG recognizes that theproduct contains non-contiguous events in the channel domain and/ornon-contiguous event start times in the time domain. The subscriber isprompted to switch to a collapsed hyperscroll view of this product bypressing a button on the remote control.

In the collapsed mode, shown in FIG. 13, only the channels and timeswith events 401-407 in this product are displayed. The collapsed modeallows the subscriber to plan which events he would like to view orvideo tape without having to scroll through all the times and channelslooking for events within this product. As depicted in FIG. 14,scrolling to the right in the EPG grid, within the collapsed hyperscrollmode navigates to the next time and channel that contains an eventwithin the product. Referring back to FIG. 13, although not shown, ifmore events are playing during the 3:30 p.m. time slot, but are unableto be displayed due to space constraints, the EPG display would promptthe subscriber to navigate up, down, right or left to the additionalevents. The collapsed mode provides large degrees of subscribernavigation flexibility through these types of time-dispersed andchannel-dispersed multi-event PPV products.

In a second embodiment, a zoom mode is used to view the PPV eventswithin a product. In this embodiment of the invention, moving the cursorwill only highlight a package (outer wrapper) and will not highlightindividual events within the package unless the subscriber presses aZoom In/Out key that switches the cursor from the package mode to anexpanded event mode. As seen in FIG. 15, in this embodiment channelnumbers are not displayed when viewing the PPV products. When a productis selected, for example, Entrapment 501, the user may enter a zoom modethat expands the selected product to display the individual events, asshown in FIG. 16. The grid times remain the same as in the previouscollapsed mode. The days shown on the top of the grid will indicate onlythe applicable days of the current product. The zoom mode easilyaccommodates non-contiguous channel scheduling. As shown in FIG. 17, asthe user scrolls to the right, additional programming that is part ofthe product is displayed. Within this expanded mode, pressing the arrowbuttons move the subscriber from event to event in the expanded screenview. This allows the subscriber to purchase or pull up informationregarding each individual event. To exit the expanded mode, thesubscriber presses the zoom button once more and is returned to theproduct mode.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the user can scroll throughthe EPG grid using the up—down and left—right buttons on the remotecontrol. Once the user reaches the multi-event PPV products the firstmovement on to a package highlights the package wrapper. For example, inFIG. 6, once the user moves down and highlights package 100 the nextdown arrow keystroke will move the user onto individual event 101. Asecond down keystroke will highlight individual event 102 and a thirdkeystroke to 104, etc. Once event 106 has been reached, an additionaldown arrow keystroke will highlight package 200. Thus, it can be seenfrom this example that the arrow keys are all that is necessary forselecting packages or individual events within a package. The left andright arrow keys perform similar functions. For example, in FIG. 6, ifevent 102 is highlighted, a right arrow keystroke will cause event 103to be highlighted. Each successive right arrow keystroke will cause thenext event within the package to become selected until the last event inthe package is reached. Once the last event in a package is reached, thenext arrow keystroke will cause the adjacent package wrapper to becomeselected.

Implementation of EPG and Navigator Functionality According to thisInvention:

The EPG and navigator functionality described above may be implementedin various hardware. For instance, the EPG according to this inventionmay be implemented as a software module within a set top box, such asSTB 384 associated with TV 382, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, theEPG according to this invention may be integrated with the functionalityof TV 382 provided with an appropriate processor and memory for storingEPG guide data. Likewise, as convergence continues, the EPG andnavigator functionality according to this invention may be implementedwithin PC 387.

Regardless of where implemented, the EPG and navigator functionality ofthis invention may comprise a software module carrying out the processof steps shown in FIG. 18. At step 700, the process begins by the userpressing a keystroke on the control device. The keystroke is detected atstep 705. At step 710, the system must determine if the detectedkeystroke is a cursor key, for example, a up, down, left, or right arrowkey.

At 725, if the keystroke is a cursor key the program next determineswhether the system is in the event cell or package mode. At step 755, ifthe system is in the event cell mode (hyperscroll mode) the system nextdetermines if the next event to be selected is part of the same packageor part of a different package. If the adjoining cell is part of thesame package, at step 770, the system will highlight the next displayedevent cell within the package in the direction represented by the cursorkey. However, at step 755, if the adjoining event cell is not part ofthe same package, then at step 760 the system will highlight theadjoining package wrapper or non-packaged wrapper in the direction ofthe depressed cursor key, for example, left, right, up or down. Inaddition to highlighting the adjoining package wrapper, the system, atstep 765, exits the event cell mode (hyperscroll mode) placing the EPGsystem back into the package mode. The process ends at step 755 and thesystem awaits another keystroke. Alternatively in a second embodiment,the system can remain in the event cell mode and additional cursorkeystrokes navigates through the EPG at the event cell level.

Looking back to step 725, if the system was in the package mode insteadof the event cell mode when the cursor key was pressed, at step 750, theadjoining package wrapper or non packaged wrapper becomes highlighted.This, allows the user to navigate from package to package in the EPGreducing the amount of time necessary to scan through the EPG.Thereafter, the process ends and the system awaits for the nextkeystroke.

Referring back to step 710, if a cursor key is not depressed, at step715, the system next determines if the keystroke was the zoom key. Atstep 720, if the key depressed was not the zoom key, the systemprocesses the keystroke and carries out the function associated with thekeystroke. For example, if the enter key for buying the selectedprogramming is depressed the currently highlighted event is purchasedand displayed to the viewer.

Alternatively, at step 715, if the zoom key is depressed, at step 730,the system determines whether the system is currently highlighting apackage wrapper. In effect, the system is checking whether it iscurrently in the package mode or the event cell mode (hyperscroll/zoommode). At step 735, if the system is in the event cell mode(hyperscroll/zoom mode) and not highlighting an event cell within apackage wrapper, the process ends at step 775. However, if a event cellis being highlighted at step 735, the system, at step 745, will exit theevent cell (hyperscroll/zoom) mode and highlight the package wrapperassociated with the event cell that was selected, thus ending theprocess.

On the other hand, at step 730, if the system is currently highlightinga package wrapper because it is in the package mode, at step 740, thesystem will highlight the first displayed event cell within the currentselected package. Thus, the system enters the event cell(hyperscroll/zoom) mode. The process then ends at step 775 and awaitsanother keystroke.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, anddescribing embodiments of the present invention, an improved EPG systemfor providing multi-event PPV products. Modifications and adaptations tothese embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: storing, in memory, anassociation between programming events in a package of programming;generating, by a processor, a programming guide as a programming grid ofcells that displays a wrapper surrounding all cells in the programminggrid that are associated with the programming events in the package ofprogramming; scrolling from the wrapper to an adjacent wrapper of adifferent package of programming; and prompting to switch to a differentmode of operation of the programming guide in response to determiningthe package of programming is associated with non-contiguous ones of thecells.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating anothermode of operation for the programming guide in which inputs to anavigator scroll within the programming grid from the wrapper to theadjacent wrapper of the different package of programming.
 3. The methodof claim 2, further comprising highlighting the adjacent wrapper.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising generating another mode ofoperation for the programming guide in which inputs to a navigatorscroll from one of the cells associated with one of the programmingevents in the package of programming to another one of the cellsassociated with another one of the programming events within the packageof programming.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprisinghighlighting the another one of the cells in the programming grid as thenavigator scrolls from the one of the programming events to the anotherone of the programming events within the package of programming.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising simultaneously listing the wrapperand the programming events associated with the package of programming.7. The method of claim 1, further comprising relating the wrapper to theprogramming events associated with the package of programming.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising expanding the programming guide toinclude information associated with one of the programming events withinthe package of programming.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprisingcollapsing the programming guide to minimize information associated withone of the programming events within the package of programming.
 10. Asystem, comprising: a processor; and a memory storing software that whenexecuted causes the processor to perform operations, the operationscomprising: associating programming events as a package of programming;generating a programming guide as a programming grid of cells thatdisplays a wrapper surrounding all cells in the programming grid ofcells that are associated with the programming events in the package ofprogramming; scrolling from the wrapper to an adjacent wrapper of adifferent package of programming; and prompting to switch to a differentmode of operation of the programming guide in response to determiningthe package of programming is associated with non-contiguous ones of thecells.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations furthercomprise highlighting the wrapper associated with the package ofprogramming.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations furthercomprise highlighting one cell in the programming grid of cellsassociated with one of the programming events.
 13. The system of claim11, wherein the operations further comprise highlighting the adjacentwrapper associated with a different page of programming.
 14. The systemof claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise highlighting one ofthe programming events in the programming grid of cells.
 15. A memorystoring software that when executed causes a processor to performoperations for generating a programming guide, the operationscomprising: associating programming events to packages of pay-per-viewprogramming; associating wrappers to the packages of pay-per-viewprogramming; generating the programming guide as a programming grid ofcells that displays multiple ones of the wrappers, with each wrappersurrounding all cells in the programming grid of cells that areassociated with the programming events in one of the packages ofpay-per-view programming; generating a first viewing mode for theprogramming guide in which inputs to a navigator scroll between wrappersof different ones of the packages of pay-per-view programming;determining a particular one of the packages of pay-per-view programmingis associated with non-contiguous cells in the programming grid ofcells; and generating to a second viewing mode in which the inputs tothe navigator scroll between the non-contiguous cells.
 16. The memory ofclaim 15, wherein the operations further comprise highlighting one ofthe non-contiguous cells.
 17. The memory of claim 15, wherein theoperations further comprise highlighting one of the wrappers.
 18. Thememory of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise highlightingan adjacent wrapper.
 19. The memory of claim 15, wherein the operationsfurther comprise switching between the first viewing mode and the secondviewing mode.